Sycamore Dene, Chesham, Buckinghamshire

Designed in 1962 by the architect Hans Werner Rosenthal, this wonderfully characterful four-bedroom home is set in over 1/3 of an acre of landscaped gardens and woodlands on the quiet edge of Chesham. Extensively modernised in recent years, the interior living space extends to around 2,225 sq ft, with full-height glazing bringing an excellent quality of light across its two storeys. Close to the Chiltern Hills, the location's peaceful, secluded feeling belies its proximity to the Metropolitan Line, which arrives at London Bridge from Chesham in around 75 minutes.

The Tour

The house is set on a quiet, no-through road, with a private driveway forming a generous provision of off-street parking for several vehicles. Mature hedging draws the boundary and shields the front gardens. A glass-fronted entrance hall leads to the ground level, where the original staircase ascends to the upper level.

Following an inverted layout, the first floor unfolds into a series of beautifully bright, free-flowing living spaces, where natural light streams in from every angle. The topography of the site creates an equilibrium between the architecture and its surroundings, enabling wonderful views from the balcony into the surrounding treetops.

A bespoke kitchen has been designed for the ease of everyday living, with optimal space for food preparation and deep storage cupboards built into lines of hand-crafted joinery. The dining area is strategically placed for seamless fluidity between cooking and eating, all against the joyful backdrop of the gardens.

Hardwood flooring continues underfoot through the main living area, where sliding glazed walls open the entire room to the balcony. Merging interior and exterior spaces, the balcony lends well for sunny summer lunches, with a loggia providing shelter throughout the seasons.

Two of the four bedrooms are also positioned on the upper level, each with views of the gardens and access to the bathroom and its large walk-in shower.

The ground-floor level is wonderfully flexible. The central room well befits a second living space, home office, gym, or an additional bedroom, with garden views and direct access to the terrace. Two double bedrooms lie off an arterial corridor, each beautifully light, quiet and with direct garden access. A second shower room is also positioned on this level.

With every inch of space well optimised, the laundry facilities are currently housed under the stairwell, and additional storage is tucked into the recesses.

Outside Space

The expansive gardens of over 1/3 of an acre warrant comparable merit to the design of the house. Left intentionally naturalistic, minimising the intervention of the house in its rural setting, the wooded backdrop offers a quiet retreat for an array of local wildlife and birdlife. Large expanses of lawn provide the perfect summer pavilion for entertaining and relaxing through the summer months, while meandering paths weave through a dense layer of woodland, with a soft dappled light and shade through the seasons.

The Area

Surrounded by the green expanses of the Chiltern Hills Area of Natural Beauty, Sycamore Dene is a quiet spot just a 20-minute walk from the heart of Chesham. Hockeridge and Pancake Woods are both a five-minute drive away, with plenty of other hiking trails in the surrounding area.

While Chesham is home to major retailers and supermarkets, it also retains the feel of a traditional town with many independent outlets. It has a bi-weekly food market and a monthly farmers' market. Chapter Two is a second-hand book shop that hosts weekly readings, and The Refill Project promotes zero-waste shopping. The Queen's Head and The Black Horse Inn are among the favourite pubs in the area. Enjoy coffee and cake at Roots, delicious sourdough pizza at Pizzeria Liri and relaxed tapas dining at The Junction. The Elgiva Theatre and Cinema runs a complete programme of music, comedy, drama, and films. Chesham Leisure Centre offers a 25-metre swimming pool and a full array of gym facilities and fitness classes.

Chesham has many well-regarded primary schools, including Chesham Preparatory School, Newtown Infants School and Brushwood Junior School, for which Sycamore Dene lies within the catchment area. It also lies within the catchment area of the local selective grammar schools, the co-ed Chesham Grammar and Dr Challoner’s Grammar Schools for Boys/Girls, as well as Chiltern Hills Academy.

Chesham lies at the end of the Metropolitan Line, with underground services running to Baker Street in under 50 minutes and then onwards to Aldgate. Amersham Station, three miles south and Berkhamsted Station, four miles north, run services into central London in approximately 45 minutes. With easy access to the A41, M1 and M25, London is reachable in just under an hour by car. Luton and Heathrow airports are both within a 40-minute drive away.

Council Tax Band: G